Acclaimed American composer Rosephanye Powell has been awarded the esteemed 2025 Brock Commission
A notable honor recognizing her outstanding contributions to choral music.
Rosephanye Powell’s newly commissioned work, “Kyrie Eleison,” will premiere at the American Choral Directors Association’s (ACDA) 2025 National Conference in Dallas, Texas.
Powell, hailed as one of America’s premier women composers, boasts an impressive catalog of solo vocal and choral music published by leading national publishers. Her remarkable compositions span sacred to secular works, showcasing her talent in performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
Dr. Rosephanye Powell’s compositions have been performed by esteemed conductors at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Spivey Hall. Her works are regularly commissioned by leading choral ensembles such as Cantus and the Grammy-winning Chanticleer, as well as university, community, church, and school choirs. Highly sought after, her music has been featured at ACDA conventions, Honor Choir festivals, and Chorus America events. Spanning sacred and secular repertoire, her compositions include works for mixed chorus, treble voices, TTBB ensembles, and children’s choirs.
Kyrie Eleison in G Major
SATB & Digital — Rosephanye Powell Choral Series
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Kyrie Eleison, a stunning choral work by Rosephanye Powell. With expressive vocal lines and a richly crafted piano accompaniment, Powell delivers a passionate and compelling SATB setting of this ancient text. True to her signature style, this piece is both profound and accessible—ideal for high school, community, and professional choirs alike. A must-have for any choral repertoire!
Commissioned by the ACDA Endowment in memory of Raymond W. Brock, “Kyrie Eleison” will be premiered by the Montgomery High School Madrigals, under the direction of Heather Orr, at the 2025 ACDA National Convention in Dallas, TX.
Voicing: SATB
Style: Traditional
Difficulty: Advanced
Series: Rosephanye Powell Choral Series
Publisher: Gentry Publications
Release Date: March 2025
Dr. Powell is a Professor of Voice at Auburn University, holding degrees from Florida State University (D.M.), Westminster Choir College (M.M.), and Alabama State University (B.M.E., summa cum laude). Before joining Auburn in 2001, she taught at Philander Smith College and Georgia Southern University. A distinguished vocalist and scholar, her research focuses on African-American spirituals and vocal health for music professionals. She is a sought-after clinician, conductor, and adjudicator, presenting lectures and workshops both nationally and internationally.
Her numerous accolades include Honorary Life Membership in NCCO (2023), the National Vanguard Award (NANM, 2023), the Luise Vosgerchian Teaching Award (Harvard, 2022), the Living Legend Award (CSU African Diaspora Sacred Music Festival), and the Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award. She is featured in Who Is Who in Choral Music and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
Dr. Powell is a member of ASCAP, ACDA, Chorus America, NATS, NANM, and NCCO.
Rosephanye Powell Commissions & Premieres
Hold Fast to Dreams (SATB) – Choirs of America 2024 National, Carnegie Hall (2025)
Celebrate Us! (SSAA) – The Women’s Chorus of Dallas
Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom (SATB) – Eight-movement SATB work, California State University, Dominguez Hills
Quiet Revolutionary – Three-movement SATB piece, Harvard University Choirs
Love Will Find a Way (SATB) – Metropolitan Youth Chorale of NY, Lincoln Center
Three Spanish Songs (TTBB) – Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles
A Christmas Medley (SATB) – Chanticleer
I Want to Die While You Love Me (SSAA) – ACDA Women’s Choirs Commission Consortium
Gospel Trinity (SATB) – Brehm Center/Fuller Seminary, Lincoln Center
With What Shall I Come (SATB) – Anton Armstrong & St. Olaf Choir
The Cry of Jeremiah – Four-movement sacred work, American Guild of Organists, Lincoln Center
When We Sing – Commissioned by Cantus
Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit (SSAA) – Sofia Chamber Choir, Bulgaria
Rosephanye Powell’s Music Catalog
Discover the full range of Rosephanye Powell’s choral music, a treasure trove of sacred and secular works showcasing her expertise as a composer, singer, and voice professor, and featuring a diverse array of styles, themes, and voicings. Her music catalog features:
The Word Was God: This stirring work features rich harmonies and expressive melodies that convey the depth of the text’s meaning.
Langston Dreams: The solo vocal lines soar over rich harmonies, capturing the essence of Langston Hughes’ vivid and imaginative poems.
Miss Wheatley’s Garden: A collection of vocal solos composed by Rosephanye Powell. The pieces are inspired by Phillis Wheatley, the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry.
Then, Here, and Now: Vocal solos showcasing the composer’s mastery of choral writing and her unique approach to text setting. The solos are characterized by their intricate melodies, rich harmonies, and dynamic contrasts, which bring the text to life in powerful and emotionally impactful ways.
The Rosephanye Powell Choral Series
Explore the richness of Rosephanye Powell’s choral music through her esteemed series, showcasing her mastery of sacred and secular works. This curated collection features:
Still I Rise: A powerful SSAA arrangement, celebrating resilience and determination.
The Cry of Jeremiah: A majestic multi-movement work for chorus, organ, and orchestra, premiered at Lincoln Center.
Ascribe to the Lord: A stirring SATB piece with organ accompaniment, ideal for worship services.
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child: A poignant SATB a cappella arrangement, highlighting Powell’s emotional depth.